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Plumbing Tips

Expert Advice from Our Skilled San Jose Plumbers

To avoid potential issues follow the simple tips outlined below. If, however, you do run into a problem, our experienced plumbers in San Jose, and Sacramento, are the right team for the job.

Call us today at (408) 669-4222 to learn more!

Gas Main Shut Off

It is very important to know how to shut off your gas main in case of an emergency. You should know where to find your gas meter and always turn off the gas main valve to your house immediately after an earthquake. There is a shut-off valve running parallel with the pipe, usually located about 6 to 8 inches above the ground. Take a 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench, and turn the valve 1/4 turn in either direction, until the valve is crosswise to the pipe. Call us today if you are unable to shut off your gas main.

Sharpening Garbage Disposal Blades

Pouring a small amount of small ice cubes down your kitchen sink will sharpen your garbage disposal blades, extending the longevity of your garbage disposal and kitchen sink lines.

Flushable and Non flushable Bathroom Products

These non flushable items can easily cause sewage back ups, when flushed. Ensure all these items are put in the garbage.

Foods You Can and Can’t Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

These are the most common non acceptables that should not be put in your garbage disposal and will cause back ups in kitchen sink lines. Ensure all of these disposables end up in garbage.

Sprinkler System

Signs you may have an underground irrigation leak,

Overly green areas on the lawn.
Muddy areas on the lawn.
Puddles of water.

Always be aware of broken sprinkler heads and leaks from your irrigation control valve.

Especially in the summer, using automatic timers for sprinkler systems will bring the cost of your water bill down as well as save water. Attempt to set your timer for evening hours or early morning. Before the start of the season, test the irrigation, be sure to see your timers work properly.

Water Heater Preparation

Most water heater companies suggest routine maintenance once every six months, we recommend once every year. Maintenance entails pulling out the burner assembly and cleaning your combustion chamber, as well as flushing your water heater system. Tankless and non tankless water heaters should be flushed around this time in preparation for winter. The cold temperatures of Winter may cause leaks from calcium build up. Flushing will eliminate hard calcium build up, extending the longevity of your tankless or non tankless water heater. Schedule an appointment today for a flush and maintenance.

Kitchen Sink Lines

Pour boiling water down your kitchen sink to rinse grease and grime buildup in your kitchen sink lines, lowering the chance of back ups in the foreseen future. Preform this action multiple times.

Shutting Off Water to Fixture

This supply valve is usually near the bottom left side of the toilet tank.

Shut-off valves are located beneath both kitchen and bathroom sink fixtures. Shutting off the water supply valve beneath a kitchen sink is the prerequisite to several common repair jobs, including faucet repairs and supply line replacement.

Shutting off the water to a fixture will stop the water supply to the selected area, not your entire house.

Shutting Off Your Water Main

This valve is usually on an outside wall in the front of your home. Turning off this valve (by turning it clockwise) cuts off the water supply to the entire house. If your home does not have a direct water main shut off you must turn off the city water meter located in the ground near the sidewalk. A meter key is required for this action. Call us today for assistance.

Holidays

Do not use your garbage disposal while cooking your favorite holiday dishes. Make sure to throw all food waste, big and small, in the garbage. Even the smallest food particles, such as rice or other tiny grains, can clog your kitchen sink drain. Always keep any kind of peels such as potato from going down the drain or into your garbage disposal.

By following this advice, your drain will remain unclogged while trying to finish your holiday cooking or cleaning up after your Thanksgiving dinner. Most importantly, you will not have the inconvenience of a plumber in your home during the holidays when your family and guests are present.

This advice can also save you money as the rate for plumbing services is often higher for after hours, holiday, and weekend service.

Happy holidays from our CMS Plumbing family to yours!

Vacations

When going on vacation there are multiple hindsight opportunities to save money on your utilities. Turn off your water main when going on vacation to lower your monthly bill while not being home. Turn your water heater to vacation mode.

It's not recommended to completely turn off a water heater, but you can save a significant amount of energy—and money—while on vacation by switching the water heater to vacation mode. If you'll be gone during the winter, flush all the toilets in your home to drain the water out of the tanks.

Please give us a call and set up an appointment that is convenient for you to have any issues dealt with before they become emergencies that can hurt your wallet. We can be reached at (408) 669-4222.

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